Photo Released of Major Attached to Moody AFB Killed in Afghanistan

A photograph of Major Walter Gray has been released. Gray was killed in Afghanistan on August 8th by a suicide bomber. A website has been set up for people that want to donate to Major Gray's family.

The link is below:http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=7611&url=majorgraysfamily

For the full story read below.

Valdosta, Georgia- August 10, 2012- 6:15pm

An Airman with ties to Moody Air Force Base died in Afghanistan this week.

His commander, Colonel Samuel Milam, said "You know I'm a career aviator and certainly if you do that business long enough you're going to lose some friends."

That's indeed what happened in the tragic death of Major Walter Gray of Conyers, Georgia. Gray was killed on Wednesday 8/8 in Afghanistan by two men wearing suicide vests in the eastern Kunar Province. Colonel Milam went on to say "anyone that's deployed in operation Enduring Freedom is you know vulnerable to attack unfortunately. We can't you know secure every foot of the country. It's not like being in the United States, they are in danger everyday."

A local barber, James Gowan said "we have some people that are willing to sacrifice themselves. My heart goes out again to the family and friends of those who died. And he was also of course a fellow Georgian and that makes it even closer to home."

Major Gray was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado. But he was part of the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing, headquartered at Moody. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the attack which also injured a state department diplomat. The tragic incident was one of at least three attacks this week in Afghanistan.

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Moody Air Force Base, Georgia- August 10, 2012- Noon

A United States Air Force major stationed in our area has been killed while serving in Afghanistan.

Major Walter Gray was killed on Wednesday, August 8th by two men wearing suicide vests. He was one of three U.S. military members that were killed in the attack in Afghanistan.

Major Gray was from Conyers, Georgia. He had been recently assigned to the 13th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Carson, Colorado, which is a unit of the 93rd Air-Ground Operations Wing headquartered at Moody Air Force Base.

Gray was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and his unit was responsible for integrating combat air power into ground operations.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the attack which had also injured a state department diplomat. The tragic incident was one of at least three attacks this week in Afghanistan.

Stay with WCTV for more._____________________________________________________

Moody Air Force Base, Georgia- August 9, 2012

An Air Force major assigned to the 13th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Carson, Colo. died yesterday from injuries sustained during a suicide bomb attack in Kunar Province, Afghanistan.

Maj. Walter D. Gray, 38, of Conyers, Ga., was an Air Liaison Officer and flight commander for the 13 ASOS, a geographically separated unit of the 93d Air Ground Operations Wing headquartered at Moody Air Force Base, Ga.

“Maj. Gray’s ultimate sacrifice is a tragic loss for the 93d Air Ground Operations Wing family,” said Col. Samuel Milam, wing commander. “He was a tremendous officer and leader. Our most heartfelt sympathies are with the Gray family and the Airmen of the 13th Air Support Operations Squadron during this difficult time.”

Gray was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and his unit was responsible for integrating combat airpower into ground operations.

Gray was commissioned in October 1997 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps after previously serving as an enlisted Airman. He became one of the Air Force’s first career Air Liaison Officers, and was the career field’s second highest ranking officer, after serving for several years as an Airfield Operations officer.

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For more information, please contact Moody Air Force Base Public Affairs at (229)-257-2400 or (847)-997-1718 after duty hours.

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